Apparatus for handling articles



Sept. 3, 1963 w. DE BACK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 INVENTOR WILLIAM 0. BACK ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1963 w.DE BACK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES Filed Dec. 14. 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 2 mm mm Nm M mi-h I ATTO RNEY ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1963 w. DEBACK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 14,1959 mu m- Huh-Hi United States Patent 1 O 3,102,630 APPARATUS FORHANDLING ARTICLES William ale Bach, San lose, Calih, assignor to El (3Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 14, 1959, Ser. No.859,215

Claims. (Cl. 198-78) The present invention appertains to a method ofhandling articles and to apparatus for carrying out the method. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to apparatus for handlingcontainers such as cans as they receive a charge of a food product andare thereafter filled with brine or syrup, capped and directed to aprocessing unit, such as a cooker.

An assembly line or production line procedure is successfully employedin many canneries in the preparation and processing of certain cannedfood which are essentially fluid in character. Foods having thischaracteristic, and including juices, pureed foods, soups and sauces,lend themselves best to production line canning processes which mayinclude successive operations of can filling, brining or syruping, cancapping, and sterilizing, since foods of this type can he handled asrapidly during the can filling operation as during the other operations,thus enabling the various operations to be accurately timed,synchronized and integrated. However, it has been impossible heretoforeto successfully employ a production line canning procedure in theproduction of such varieties of canned foods as large sections of fruit,whole tomatoes, asparagus spears, and new potatoes which are not fluidin character. It is usually possible to fill cans with these varietiesof foods only at a rate which varies from can to can or at a rate which,if it does not vary, is nevertheless far below that at which the otheroperations of syruping or brining, can capping and sterilizing canprofitably be performed. For these reasons it is the general practice ofcanneries running products of the last mentioned character to fill thesame into cans in any convenient manner and to collect on pallets thecans of each variety of product before the cans are further proc essed.Pallets filled with cans of a single variety of product are thenarranged in stacks and are held until a relatively large quantity ofthat product is accumulated. When a sufiicient quantity of one varietyof product has been collected to make feasible thecoordinatedperformance of the brining or syruping, can capping andcooking operations in rapid succession in a production line procedure,the cans are fed manually to the syruper. Since, heretofore, there hasbeen no successfiul way to handle foods of this latter character in acomplete production line, the canneries have been :faced with higherhandling costs and lower production rates than they can aEEord.Additionally, these foods, while held in the uncapped cans, areunavoidably subjected to unsanitary and harmin! conditions.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improvedapparatus for handling nonfluid food products in )2. cannery productionline.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedconveyor system for use in a cannery production line.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for accumulatm cansin a cannery production line.

Another object is to provide improved means for transferring cans from aconveyor atone level to another conveyor at a different level in \aconveyor apparatus of the type mentioned above.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan of a cannery production line capable ofhandling non'l'luid food products.

PK}. 2 is a plan of a can accumulator system employed in the productionline shown in PKG. 1.

FlG. 3 is an enlarged verticalsection taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken along lines 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the can accumulatorsystem of FIG. 2, the view being taken as indicated by the arrows 5-5 ofFIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, cans A, B, C, and D in upright position arecarried in the directions indicated by the arrows 3 on upper reacheslilo-10d of feed or supply conveyors Ida-Md which transport cans fromindividual hand-pack stations or filling machines 911-921, respectively.For purposes of illustration, it will be assumed that each fillingmachine has a capacity of cans per minute. The conveyors ll lcz-ldd leadto a can transfer device 18 of a can accumulator system 29' comprising aconveyor 22 having a can carrying surface 24 which defines a closedelliptical path. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention thesystem 20 is interposed in a cannery production line, indicated ingeneral by the letter L, between the filling machines and two syrupers25a and 251:, the syruper 25a being arranged to supply heaw syrup andthe syruper 251; light syrup to the cans handled thereby. In addition tothe filling machines 9a-9d, the accumulator system Zil, and the twosyrupers 25a and 25b, the production line L includes a can capper 2 6followed by a continuous cooker 27. The syrupers 25a and 2511, the cancapper Zoand the cooker are capable of and operate most profitably at apredetermined speed considerably higher thanthat of the filling machines9a-9d. For instance the syru-pers 25a and 25b, capper 26 and cooker 27can he set to operate satisfactorily at a rate of 200 cans per minute.it is to be understood that the filling machines 9a9d, the syrupers 25aand 25b, the can capper 26 and the cooker 27 are of well knownconstruction.

Let it be assumed that the cans A and B on the conveyors llda and 14bhave each received a charge of peach halves from their respectivefilling machines 9a and 9]) (FIG. 1) and are each to be filled with aheavy syrup supplied by the syruper 25a. These cans ibear like codemarks by which the cans containing peach halves in heavy syrup can beidentified.

The cans C and D on the conveyors 14c and 14d have each received acharge of peach slices from the filling machines and 9d and are to befilled with a light syrup by the syruper 25b. These cans have like codemarks which are different from those on the cans A and B in order thatthe cans containing peach halves in heavy syrup can easily bedistinguished from the cans containing peach slices in light syrup. Itwill be apparent that the operator is able to select cans containingpeach halves or peach slices either by observing the contents of thecans or the code marks.

The reaches 1lla-1lld of theconveyors 14a-14d are disposed at a lowerlevel than the can carrying surface 2 4 (FIG. 5). A conveyor 28 or thecan transfer device 18 has an upper reach 29 extending along one side ofthe .ute.

can accumulator conveyor 22 and beneath but adjacent to the upperreaches Illa-d of the conveyors =l4a-l4d. Both the accumulator conveyor22 and the transfer conveyor 28 advance in the same direction asindicated by the arrow 30 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5). The cans A, B, C, and D,moved by the conveyors 14a- 1'4d in the directions indicated, are guidedtherefrom by deflectors 3211-32d, respectively (FIG. 2), onto the reach29 which is inclined upward adjacent each of the conveyors 1411- 1461from the level thereof to the level of the surtace 24. The cans A, B, Cand D, upon being raised by the transier conveyor 28 firom the conveyors1411-1402! into planar relation with the surface 24, engage otherdeflectors 36a-36d associated with the conveyors 14-61-14d,respectively. The deflectors Lida-36d guide the advancing cans A, B, Cand D from the transter conveyor 28 and onto the accumulator conveyor22. The cans, thus elevated from the level of the feed conveyors 14a-14dand transferred onto the accumulator conveyor 22, are carried thereby ina circuit until removed 'theretrom laterally of the conveyor 22 by anattendant who directs the cans into one or the other of two candischarge devices 4% and Nib included in the accumulator system 20.Since the discharge devices 40a and 4% are similar to each other, thedescription thereof appearing later herein will be directed particularlyto the discharge device 4%. Reference to corresponding parts of thedischarge devices 4011 and 4011 will be made by the use of the samenumerals, each having the appropriate sufl'ix letter a or b. The cansentering the discharge devices 40a and 49 h are directed thereby fromthe conveyor 22 and onto the upper reaches 50a and Sill) of take-awayconveyors 52a and 5212, respectively, moving in the directions indicatedby the arrows 54a and 54b associated therewith (FIGS. '1 and 2).

After a supply of cans containing one variety of product, e.g., peachhalves in the cans A and B, has been collected on the accumulatorsystem.- and the cans are passing the discharge devices 40a and 40b at arate higher than 200 cans per minute, the attendant, located adjacentthe discharge devices 40a and 40b, guides these cans into a particularone of the devices, the device 49a for instance. These cans are guidedby the device 4021 on the conveyor 22 and onto the conveyor 52!; whichdelivers the cans A and B at the rate of 200 cans per minute to thesyruper a by which these cans are supplied with heavy syrup. It will beapparent that during the time the cans A and B are being routed from theaccumulator system to the syruper 25a the number of cans C and D on theaccumulator conveyor 22 are increasing. When the supply of cans A and Bon the accumulator conveyor 22 has thus been diminished to a point Wherethey can no longer be supplied to their syruper at the rate required byits capacity, the attendant discontinues guiding cans A and B to thedischarge device 4011 and guides the cans C and D to the dischargedevice 40b for delivery to the conveyor 52b leading to the syruper 25bby Which thesecans are filled with light syrup. While the cans C and Dare being routed to the syruper 25b, the number or cans A and B on theaccumulator conveyor 22 again increases.

Following the syruping operation, cans from both syrupers are routedfirst to the can capper 26 and then to the cooker 27 which aresynchronized with each other and operated at a speed to handle aquantity of cans equal to the output of one syrup'er, i.e., 200 cans permin- By first routing a plurality of the cans A and B to the syruper 25aand then routing a plurality of the cans ,C and D to the syruper 25b,sufiicient time is allowed for a plurality of those cans not beingrouted to a syruper to be fed to and collected upon the accumulatorconveyor. It will be apparent that by collecting a plurality of cans ofone variety of product and then of another, and routing the cans of onevariety to one of the syrupers and then the cans of the other variety tothe other syruper, the syrupers will each operate at its capacity eventhough each syrupcr is operated only from time to time.

4 Therefore, because of the accumulator system 20 of the presentinvention, the filling machines 9a-9b, the can capper '26 and the cooker27 will operate continuously and the entire production line will operateuninterruptedly regardless. of the fact that the syrupers will notoperate continuously.

The can transfer device -18 and the can discharge devices 40a and 401;,are mounted in cooperative relation to the accumulator conveyor 22 uponan elongate, framelilce base 60 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5). The base 60'comprises opposite end support irames 62 (FIG. 3) and 64 (FIG. 2) whichare oi similar construction; The frames 62 and 64 are rigidlyinterconnected at each side of the machine by outer and inner pairs ofhorizontal beams 66 and 67, respectively (FIG. 4), extendinglongitudinally of the base 6b in transversely spaced relation. The outerbeams 66 are interconnected at their corresponding ends by semicircularbeam portions 68 (only one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). Both pairs oflongitudinal beams 66 and 67, as Well as the end beam portions 68, areprovided with a plurality of spaced apart rollers 70 or the samediameter, which are rotatable about horizontal axes. As illustrated bestin FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the periphcries of the rollers '70 project abovethe beans 66 and 67 and the beam portions 68-.

The can accumulator conveyor 22 comprises an endless roller chain 72(FIGS. -2, 3 and 4) trained around spaced, horizontally alignedsprockets 74 and 76 (FIG. 2) which are joumaled on vertical shafts 78and 80, respectively. The shaft 78 is fixed by bolts 82 (FIG. 3) to theend frame 62 whereas the shaft 80, which is secured to its supportfirame 64 in a similar manner, is horizontally adjustable longitudinallyof base 60 by means of a slack take-up device of well known construction(not shown) so that the tension on the chain 72 can be varied.

The conveyor 22 includes a series of substantially identical elongateplates 84 (FIG. 2) extending transversely or the chain 72 and disposedin substantially horizontal planar relation. Each plate 84 is fixedalong its generally transverse mid portion to one of the chain links ina manner common to conveyors or this type. 'It will be noted (FIGS. 2and 5) that the elongate trailing edge portion of each plate '84overlaps the elongate leading edge portion of the next adjacent trailingplate 84. The plates 84 of conveyor 22, carried by the chain 72, followthe closed elliptical path previously mentioned and provide opposite,parallel reaches 86 and 88.

Anupstanding flange 90 (FIG. 3) of an angle member 91 extending aboutthe outer periphery or" the can carrying surface 24, and oppositeflanges 92 and 94 (FIG. 4) of angle members 93 and 5 extending along theinner edges of the reaches 36 and 88 are supported by the base 60 in awell known manner. The flanges 90, 92 and 9 4 prevent unwarranteddisplacement of cans firom the accumulator conveyor 22 laterallythereof.

The undersides of the plates 84 adjacent their opposite ends (FIGS. 4and 5) engage the peripheries of the previously mentioned rollers 7i}whereas the end portions of the plates 84 overlie the horizontal legs ofthe angle members 91, 93 and 95. Thus, the ends of the plates 84 aresupported and the rollers 76) aid in supporting, rigidifying andmaintaining substantial coplanar alignment of the plates 84 providingthe can carrying surface 24 of the conveyor 22.

As noted in FIG. 3, a gear as which is secured to the sprocket 74 isdrivingly engaged by a smaller gear 98 fixed to a drive shaft 100 of asuitable motor 102 to drive the conveyor 22 in the direction indicatedby arrow 30 in FIG. 2.

Since the conveyors l lo-1%? are similar to each other, the followingdescription will be directed particularly to the conveyor 14a, shownbest in FIG. 5. Reference to parts of the conveyors 14b, 14c and 14dcorresponding to similar parts of the conveyor 14a will be made by theuse of the same numerals which will be accompanied by the appropriatesuflix letter [1, c or d. The conveyor 14a leads from the fillingmachine 9a toward the accumulator conveyor 22 at substantially a rightangle to the reach 86 (FIG. 2). This conveyor has a thin belt 10411 ofsuitable width to accommodate cans of'various diameters and is trainedabout an idler pulley (not shown) adjacent the filling machine 9a and adrive pulley 186a (FIG. 2) disposed beneath the can accumulator conveyor22. The drive pulley 166a is journaled in a part of a transfer devicefnarne structure 1G? (1 16.5) which is attached by bolts 110 (FIG. 3) tothe adjacent outer beam 66. A chain and sprocket drive 112a (FIGS. 2 and5) connecting the drive pulley 106a to a source of power (not shown)drives the belt 10411.

In the region of the can accumulator apparatus 29 the upper reach a ofthe conveyor Ma is substantially horizontal and is supported in anysuitable manner such as by a thin plate il la (FIG. 5) mounted on theframe 108. It is to be particularly noted that the upper reach itla ofthe belt 104a is disposed at a lower level than the can carrying surface24 and passes therebeneath. Guide rails 116a and 118a extending alongopposite sides of the belt 194a are secured to projecting edges of theplate 114a and prevent displacement of cans from the conveyor 14alaterally thereof.

A belt 12h of the conveyor 28 is similar to the belt 104a and is trainedabout a drive pulley 122 and an ad justable idler pulley 12 i (PEG. 2)both of which are journaled in the frame structure 108 for rotationabout horizontal axes. The drive pulley 122 is connected to a suitablesource of power (not shown) by a chain and sprocket drive 126 so a toadvance the belt 120 of the conveyor 28 in the direction mentionedpreviously. The upper reach 29 of the conveyor 28 extends transverselyto and beneath the upper reaches Ilia-10d of the belts 1il4zzltl4d inclose laterally spaced relation to the adjacent edge of the accumulatorconveyor 22.

Adjacent the right hand side of the conveyor 14a, i.e., upstream of theconveyor 28 from the conveyor 14a (FIG. 3), there is positioned ahorizontal guide roller 128a which is journaled on a shaft 13% extendingtransversely of the belt 128. The shaft 13% is fixed adjacent its endsto the frame NS and to the adjacent flange 90 of the angle member 91.portion of the reach 29 and holds that portion at a level below theupper reach ltla of the supply conveyor 14a. Spaced from the other sideof the conveyor E la, i.e., downstream of the conveyor 21; from thesupply conveyor 14a, are two belt supporting guide rollers 132a and 134awhich are of substantially the same diameter. These rollers extendtransversely to and are spaced apart longitudinally of the belt 129 landare journaled in horizontal planar relation on shafts 136a and 138asecured to the frame structure 108. A portion of the reach 29 of thebelt 124} extending between the rollers 128a and 41320 is inclinedupward, in the direction of belt movement, from the roller 1 28a and ishereinafter called the inclined reach portion 1464:. This inclined reachportion 140a is contiguous with the left hand edge of the belt 164::(FIG. 5) in the reach 100:. Another portion of the reach 2h, extendingbetween the rollers 132a and 13411, has its upper surface insubstantially planar relation with the surface 24 of the accumulatorconveyor 22 and is hereinafter called the horizontal reach portion 142a.A plate 144a extending between the rollers 132a and 1341a is positionedin supporting relation with the reach portion 142a and is fixed to theframe structure 108.

Rollers 1123, 132 and 134 having the particular suflix letters b, c or das the case may be (FIG. 2) and associated with the conveyors Mb, 140and 14d, respectively, are similar to the corresponding rollers 128a,132a and 1340 associated with the conveyor 14a and perform a similarguiding function on the belt 123 with respect to their particular supplyconveyors. Thus, the belt 120 is provided with inclined reach portionsMilli, 14th: and

The roller 128a engages a syruper.

. 6 Mild (FIG. 1) and horizonal reach portions 142b, 142c [and 142dcooperating therewith.

The previously mentioned deflector 32a is fixed to the flange (FIGS. 2and 5) and extends obliquely across the belt 104:: in the downstreamdirection and in spaced relation thereto from a point adjacent the endof the guide rail 116a. It will be noted in F168. 2 and 5 that thedeflector 32a extends obliquely downstream with respect to both beltslll la and 129 at the location where these belts cross each other. Thecans A carried by the belt 164a, upon engaging the deflector 32a, areguided thereby off the supply belt 104a and onto the inclined reachportion 149a of the transfer belt i126.

The deflector 3641 leads from adjacent the end of the guide rail 118aand along the edge of the belt 120 remote fnom the conveyor 22 to alocation adjacent the guide roller 132a. From this point the deflector36;: extends obliquely downstream across the horizontal reach portionM251 of the belt 120 and through an opening 146m in the flange 9th to aposition above the edge of the accumulator conveyor 22. The deflector36a is rigidly secured for support to both the frame 168 and to theflange 90. Oans A carried by the belt 12% and arriving on the horizontalreach portion i lila from the inclined portion a engage the deflector36a and are guided thereby laterally of the belt .120 toward theconveyor 22. Since the adjacent edges of the horizontal reach portion142a and the can carrying surface 24 are in contiguous relation and insubstantially planar relation, the cans A moved by the belt 120 againstthe deflector 36a are guided thereby off the transfer conveyor 28,through the opening t146a in the flange 9t and onto the surface 2-4- ofthe can accumulator conveyor 22.

Cans guided by the deflectors 36b, 36c and 36:! are preferably deliveredonto the conveyor 22 at locations successively farther inboard thereofwith respect to the location to which the cans A are guided by thedeflector 3612. This is best understood by noting .in FIG. 2 that thedeflector 36b associated with the feed conveyor 14b guides the cans B toa location on the conveyor 22 slightly greater than the diameter of acan inboard of the conveyor 22 from the location to which the cans A areguided by the deflector 36a. In this way, entry of cans into theconveyor 22 is not obstructed by other cans from any feed conveyor at anupstream location.

The can discharge devices 40a and 4012, which are located adjacent eachother, are spaced from the can transfer device 18 downstream of the canaccumulator conveyor 22 (FIG. 2) and comprise the take-away con veyors52a and 52b extending at right angles to the conveyor 22 at the outeredge of the reach 88. The conveyor 52a includes a belt 147a trainedabout a drive pulley (not shown) adjacent the syruper 25a and around anidler pulley 148a mounted laterally of conveyor 22 in a manner (notshown) similar to that in which the drive pulley llloa of the conveyor14a is mounted. The belt Il -57a is driven in any convenient manner, notshown, such as by a power train from the previously mentioned Guiderails 149a and 150a, extending from adjacent the flange 90 alongopposite sides of the belt 147a, are adjustable laterally of the beltand prevent unwarranted movement of cans from the conveyor 52a laterallythereof.

A fixed deflector 152a of the discharge device 40a is secured to theflange 9t downstream of an opening 154a therein leading from theaccumulator conveyor 22 to the take-away conveyor 52a. The fixeddeflector 152a projects obliquely upstream of the conveyor 22 from theflange 99. The deflector 152a has an elongate leg 158a projecting fromits inner end longitudinally upstream of the conveyor 22. The leg 158afunctions as a fence and is disposed in parallel spaced relation to theflange 90. The space thus provided between the fence 158a and theadjacent portion of the flange 90, or edge of the conveyor 22, providesthe discharge apparatus 40a with a mouth 160a of slightly greater widththan the diameter of a can to retain cans therein in single filerelation longitudinally of the conveyor 22.

A diverter 162a of the discharge device 40a is located upstream fromfence 153a and comprises an elongate, rigid strap 164a having a stem166a at its center which projects at right angles to the strap from itsupper edge. The stem 166a is received in an elongate slot 163a of ahorizontal bridge bar 170a which extendstransversely of the conveyor 22in spaced relation above the reach 38 and is rigidly connected in anyconvenient manner (not shown) to the base 60. The stem 166a is attachedto the bridge bar 17011 by nuts 172a (only one shown, FIG. 2) so as topermit the diverter 16241 to be adjusted angularly as well astransversely of the conveyor 22. As shown in -full lines in FIG. 2, thediverter 162a has one end located adjacent the flange 9t and extendsobliquely downstream therefrom inward of the conveyor 22. The inner endof the diverter M211 is substantially aligned longitudinally of theconveyor 22 with and is spaced some distance from the'distal end of thefence 158a. The distance between the diverter 162a and the adjacent endof the fence 158a is'great enough to permit a plurality of cans in asingle file of four or five cans, arranged longitudinally of theconveyor 22, to be moved laterally therebetween.

Any cans, such as the cans A carried on the conveyor 22 adjacent theflange 94), engage the diverter 162a and are directed thereby inwardlyof the conveyor 22 beyond the fence 158a. It will, therefore, beapparent that it is impossible for any cans to enter either thedischarge device 40a or the discharge device 40b unless the cans aremoved by the attendant laterally of the conveyor 22 and into alignmentlongitudinally thereof with the mouth 160a or 16012 as the case may be.Cans, which are moved, for instance, into alignment with the mouth 160aof the discharge device 4lla, are carried by the conveyor 22 against thedeflector 152a and are routed or guided thereby to and through theopening 154a to the take-away conveyor 52a- The cans in the dischargedevice 40a, as they leave the accumulator conveyor 22, move across abridge plate 174a onto the belt 147a for movement along the takeawayconveyor 52a to the previously mentioned syruper 25a.

In describing the operation of the can accumulator apparatus 20 of thepresent invention as it functions in the assembly line L, only thetransfer of the cans A from the feed conveyor 14a to the accumulatorconveyor 22 will be described, it being understood that all of the cansA, B, C and'D are similarly transferred thereto from their particularfeed conveyor.

With the various filling machines 9a-9d and the conveyors 14a14d, 22 and28 of the can accumulator apparatus 20 in operation, the cans Aadvancing at the rate of 60 cans per minute on the supply conveyor 14aare carried thereby against the deflector 32a (FIGS. 2 and The deflector32a guides the cans A laterally off the belt 104a in the generaldirection in which the transfer and accumulator conveyors 28 and 22 areadvancing. The upwardly inclined reach portion Mile of the transfer belt120 defines a relatively shallow angle with respect to the belt 104a soas to pass very close thereto or in touching relation therewith beneaththe left hand edge of the reach a (FIG. 5). The relationship of theinclined reach portion 140a to the reach. 10a is such that the cans areinclined only to a minor extent as they move onto the belt 120 from thebelt 104a. Because the belt 164a is thin, the inclined reach portion 14%comprises a substantially uninterrupted continuation of the reach 10a.For this reason the trailing portion of the can, moving from the reach101:: onto the belt 120, experiences almost no drop or sudden downwardmovement. The narrow space over which the cans must pass while movingfrom the belt 1434a onto the belt 120 does not adversely effect thesmooth advance of the cans. For these reasons, the cans A remainrelatively steady while being transferred from the belt llida of thesupply conveyor 14a to the belt of the transfer conveyor 28 since theyare not subjected to conditions which would cause them to sway or tip.The cans A which have been thus transferred to the conveyor 28 areraised by the inclined reach portion a of the advancing belt 120 fromthe level of the supply conveyor 14a to the elevated, horizontal reachportion 142a at the level of the can carrying surface 24 of theaccumulator conveyor 22.

Continued advance of the cans A on the horizontal reach portion 142abrings them into engagement with the deflector 36a which guides the canssmoothly off the transfer conveyor 23 and onto the can carrying surface24 of the can accumulator conveyor 22. Here also, the cans remain steadywhile being transferred from the belt 120 of the conveyor 28 to the cancarrying surface 24 of the accumulator conveyor 22 since the cancarrying surfaces thereof in this region provide a substantiallyuninterrupted surface. The conveyor 22 continues to advance the cans Aalong the deflector 36a beyond the inner end thereof. The cans A, upondisengagement from the inner end of the deflector 36a, are carried bythe conveyor 22 toward the discharge devices 40a and 40b. The cans B, Cand D are similarly transferred from their particular supply conveyor14b, 140 or 14d onto the accumulator conveyor 22. It will be understoodthat prior to starting of the conveyors 52a and 52b and before theattendant directs cans from the conveyor 22 to the discharge devices4011 and 40b the cans A, B, C and D are permitted to collect on theaccumulator conveyor 22 for a predetermined time.

When a plurality of cans, in the order of several hundred to a thousandor more depending upon the diameter of the cans and the width and lengthof the conveyor 22, have collected on the accumulator conveyor 22, theconveyors 52a and 52b and the other machines of the production line,i.e., the syrupers 25a and 25b, the can capper 26 and the cooker 27 areset in operation. It will be apparent that, when a plurality of cans inthe order of the number mentioned have collected on the accumulator, thecans of each variety of product will pass a given point, such as one ofthe discharge devices, at a rate in excess of the 208 can per minutecapacity at which the individual syrupers 25a and 25b operate. Theattendant, standing adjacent the discharge devices, then selects cans Aand B containing peach halves and directs them between the adjacent endsof the fence 1581) and the diverter 162a into the discharge device 41311for movement onto the belt 147a. This belt operates at a suitable speedto adequately supply the associated syruper with cans and it is theattendants task to route the cans A and B to the discharge device Wefrom the conveyor 22 at a rate of 200 cans per minute. When the cans Aand B on the conveyor 22 have been diminished in qauntity to a numberwhich no longer permits supplying these cans to the syruper 25a at asuitable rate to continue its operation at capacity, the attend antdiscontinues routing the cans A and B to the discharge device 40a.Conveyors 176a and 1761) (FIG. 1) leading from the syrupers 25a and26!), respectively, converge adjacent the capper 26 and discharge into asingle conveyor 178 for supplying cans to the capper 26. A conveyor 180leading from the capper 26 advances cans therefrom to the cooker 27. Itwill be understood that these conveyors are suitably driven, by meansnot shown, to advance cans at the rate of 200 per minute.

Upon discontinuing the routing of cans A and B to the discharge device40a the attendant selects cans C and D containing peach slices anddirects them into the space between the fence 153]) and the diverter1625 to be direcEd into the discharge device 49b for routing to theother syruper 25b. It will be understood that the belt 147b operates ata suitable speed to adequately supply the syruper 25b with cans asdescribed in connection with the conveyor belt 147a. While the attendantis removing the cans C and D from the accumulator conveyor 22, thusconstantly reducing the number of cans C and D thereon, the number ofcans A and B in the accumulator system 20 is constantly increasing. Whenthe number of cans C and D on the accumulator conveyor 22 has beenreduced as described in connection with the cans A and B, the directingof cans C and D to the discharge device dtlb is discontinued.Thereafter, the procedure of directing cans A and B to the dischargedevice itla is resumed while the number of cans C and D increase. itwill be apparent that the operation of first directing a plurality ofcans of one variety of product, such as contained in the cans A and B,and then a plurality of cans of another variety of product, such ascontained in the cans C and D, to their particular discharge device andsyruper is continued for the duration of the canning operation. For thisreason the syrupers 25a and 25b operate alternately, each syruperoperating at a capacity rate to fill cans even though it does notperform this operation continuously. Thus, the supply of cans fed to thecapper 26 and to the cooker 27 is uninterrupted. Therefore, because ofthe accumulator apparatus 20, it is possible to use a completeproduction line procedure in the canning and processing of nonfluidfoods characterized by large sections of fruit, whole tomatoes,asparagus spears and new potatoes. After passing through the cooker 2,7,the cans having the different varieties of products which are easilyidentified by the different code marks are sorted from each other sothat the cans containing the peach halves and peach slices can becorrectly labeled and separately cased in a well known manner.

It has been found that under certain conditions, such as when canscontaining a single variety of nonfiuid-food which are supplied at asomewhat lower rate than 6 cans per minute by each of the fillingmachines E a-dd are to receive brine or syrup of the same composition, asingle discharge device dlia can be employed to route cans to thesyruper 25a only. In such a case the diverter 162a is used in thealternative position shown in phantom at 162 (FIG. 2). In this instancethe diverter idz'has one end located adjacent the inner edge of theaccumulator reach 88. The diverter 162 extends obliquely downstreamcrosswise of the conveyor 22 and has its other end disposed insubstantially the same relation with the fences as previously describedin connection with the diverter 1622a. .The cans carried by the conveyor22 engage and are directed by the diverter 162' into alignment with themouth 16%. Cans entering the mouth 160a are removed from the accumulatorconveyor 22 by the discharge device 40a at a rate determined by theconveyor 52a. Cans in excess of those removed by the conveyor 52a andcarried by the conveyor 22 toward the mouth 160a and deflected inwardlyof the conveyor 22 by engagement of these cans with the relativelystationary cans entering the mouth 16%. The cans thus deflected inwardlyof the conveyor 22 pass the discharge device Mia and are carried in acircuit by the accumulator conveyor 22 back to the diverter 162. In thisway the accumulator system 20, employing the diver-tor 162 shown inphantom, operates to supply cans at a rate required by the syruper 25a,the capper 26 and the cooker 27 in the production line L yet compensatesfor the slowness of the individual filling machines and any .momentaryfluctuations occurring in the flow of cans delivered by the fillingmachines.

The can accumulator system 20 of the present invention functionsefficiently in a production line to accumulate a plurality of cans ofseveral varieties of food which have been filled into their cans by aplurality of filling machines, each operating at a rate below thatrequired by the other machines of the production line. The cans aresupplied by the accumulator system 20' in a manner to maintain a flow ofcans at a rate permitting the canning operations to be performed in anuninterrupted production line procedure. Additionally, the canaccumulator system 20 operates to transfer cans from a conveyor id atone level to another conveyor at a different level smoothly and withoutcausing the cans to sway or tip.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it will be understood that the method and apparatus ofthe present invention are capable of modification without departing fromthe principles of the invention and that the scope of the inventionshould be limited only by the scope and proper interpretation of theclaims appended hereto.

The invention having thus been described, what is believed to be new anddesired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In an article handling apparatus, an accumulator conveyor arranged tocarry articles along a closed path, an article supply conveyor at aheight difierent from that of said accumulator conveyor, a transferconveyor extending transversely of said supply conveyor and having aninclined portion extending from adjacent and beneath said supplyconveyor into planar relation with the article carrying surface of saidaccumulator conveyor with the adjacent edges of said accumulatorconveyor and said transfer conveyor in contiguous relation, a firstdeflector above said supply conveyor and extending obliquely downstreamwith respect to said supply and said transfer conveyors to directarticles off the supply conveyor and onto the transfer conveyor, and asecond deflector extending obliquely downstream across said transferconveyor toward said accumulator conveyor to direct articles off theformer and ontothe latter, said transfer conveyor being arranged toadvance articles into contact with said second deflector and force themlaterally over said contiguous edges onto said accumulator conveyor.

2.. In an article transfer apparatus, a first article carrying conveyor,'2. second article carrying conveyor extending at an angle to andbeneath said first conveyor, first support means for said secondconveyor mounted upstream thereof from said first conveyor and disposedat a lower elevation than said first conveyor and in engagement with aportion of said second conveyor to hold the same at said lowerelevation, second support means for said second conveyor mounteddownstream from said first cons veyor and at a greater height than saidfirst conveyor and engaging a portion of said second conveyor to supportthe same at a greater height than said first conveyor, the portion ofthe second conveyor extending between said first and said second supportmeans being disposed in inclined relation to said first conveyor and incontiguous relation to one edge of the same, and a fixed deflectorlocated where said conveyors cross each other and in article engagingrelation above said first conveyor, and said deflector extendingobliquely across the same in a downstream direction with respect to bothconveyors to direct articles laterally over said one edge of the firstconveyor and onto the contiguous portion of said second conveyor.

3. The article transfer apparatus according to claim 2 and including athird support neans for said second conveyor downstream thereof inspaced relation to said second guide means, said third support meansbeing mounted at substantially the same height as said second supportmeans in engagement with a portion of the second conveyor to cooperatewith said second support means in. supporting the portion [of the secondconveyor extending between said second and third support means in planarrelation to provide the second conveyor with a horizontal portion.

4. The article transfer apparatus according to claim 3 and including athird article carrying conveyor having a portion in planar relation withsaid horizontal portion of said second conveyor, one edge of saidhorizontal portion and an edge portion of said third conveyor being incontiguous relation, and a second fixed deflector article engagin' grelation above said horizontal portion and extending obliquely acrosssaid second conveyor in a downstream direction toward said thirdconveyor to direct articles off the former and onto the latter.

5. In an article transfer apparatus, a first article carryfirst supportmeans {for said transfer conveyor upstream thereof from said supplyconveyor and having a conveyor contacting surface at an elevation lowerthan the elevation of said supply conveyor to hold the portion of saidtransfer conveyor in contact therewith at said lower elevation, secondsupport means downstream of said supply conveyor and at an elevationabove the same and supporting an elongate horizontal portion of. saidtransfer conveyor in contiguous planar relation with said firstconveyor, the portion of the transfer conveyor extending between saidfirst and said second support means being contiguous with one edge ofsaid supply conveyor and in inclined relation to the same, a firstdeflector extending obliquely downstream with respect to said supply andtransfer conveyors to direct articles off said supply conveyor and ontosaid transfer conveyor over the contiguous portions of said conveyors,and a second deflector extending obliquely downstream of said transferconveyor across said horizontal portion toward said first conveyor tointercept articles being advanced by said transfer conveyor and guidethem laterally over the planar edge of said first conveyor and saidtransfer conveyor and onto said first conveyor incident to continuedmovement of said transfer conveyor.

6. In an article accumulating system, an endless article accumulatorconveyor arranged to carry articles along a closed path, an articlesupply conveyor at a lower level than said accumulator conveyor, atransfer conveyor extending transversely to and beneath the supplyconveyor and having an edge portion in substantially parallel relationto an edge portion of said accumulator conveyor, first guide means forsaid transfer conveyor upstream from said supply conveyor and disposedt-herebelow and in engagement with a portion of said transfer conveyorto hold the same against upward movement, second guide means downstreamof said transfer conveyor in spaced relation to said supply conveyor andat a greater height than the same and supporting an elongate portion ofsaid transfer conveyor o provide the same with a horizontal portion inplanar relation with said accumulator conveyor, the portion of saidtransfer conveyor extending between said first and said second guidemeans being contiguous with one edge of said supply conveyor and ininclined relation to the same, a first deflector extending obliquelydown- Y stream with respect to said supply and transfer conveyors todirect articles off said supply conveyor and onto said transferconvey-or, a second deflector extending obliquely downstream of saidtransfer conveyor across said horizontal portion toward said accumulatorconveyor to direct articles oif the former and onto the latter, a thirddeflector downstream of said accumulator conveyor from said seconddeflector and extending obliquely upstream from adjacent one edge ofsaid accumulator conveyor for guiding articles off the same, and adiverter extending obliquely downstream over said accumulator conveyorfrom a position adjacent one edge of the same to a point spaced fromsaid position, the downstream end of said diverter being spaced upstreamfrom said third deflector to permit an article to pass between theadjacent ends of said third deflector and said diverter.

7. In an article handling apparatus, an endless article accumulatorconveyor arranged to carry articles along a closed path, an articlesupply conveyor at a lower level than said accumulator conveyor, atransfer conveyor extending transversely to and beneath the supplyconveyor and having an edge portion in substantially parallel relationto an edge portion of said accumulator conveyor, first guide means forsaid transfer conveyor upstream thereof from said supply conveyor anddisposed there- 'below in engagement with a portion of said transferconveyor to hold the same against upward mo-v'emennsecond guide meansdownstream of said transfer conveyor in spaced relation to said supplyconveyor and at a greater height than the same and supporting anelongate portion of said transfer conveyor to provide the same with ahorizontal portion in planar relation with said accumulator conveyor,the portion of said transfer conveyor extending between said first andsaid second guide means being contiguous with one edge of said supplyconveyor and in inclined relation to the same, a first deflectorextending obliquely downstream with respect to said supply and transferconveyors to direct articles off said supply conveyor and onto saidtransfer conveyor, a second deflector extending obliquely downstream ofsaid transfer conveyor across said horizontal portion toward saidaccumulator conveyor to direct articles off the former and onto thelatter, a guide wall mounted along one edge of said accumulatorconveyor, a third deflector downstream of said accumulator conveyor fromsaid second deflector and extending obliquely upstream and inwardly fromadjacent one edge of saidv accumulator conveyor for guiding articles offthe same, and an elongate fence extending longitudinally upstream oversaid accumulator conveyor from adjacent the inner end of said thirddeflector and at a distance from said guide wall to retain a pluralityof articles in single file relation longitudinally of said accumulatorconveyor between said fence and said wall and in alignment with saidthird deflector whereby articles advanced on said accumulator conveyorbetween said fence and said wall will engage said third deflector and beguided thereby off the accumulator conveyor. 7

'8. Article handling apparatus according to claim 7 and including anarticle diverter extending obliquely downstream from adjacent one edgeof said accumulator conveyor to la point spaced longitudinally of thesame from the upstream end of said fence to permit movement of anarticle between the adjacent ends of the diverter and the fence.

9. In an article accumulator including a conveyor adapted to movearticles in a closed path and means for supplying articles to theconveyor, a discharge apparatus comprising a deflector extendingobliquely inwardly and upstream from adjacent one edge of the conveyorto guide articles off the same, an eiongate fence extending upstream ofthe conveyor from adjacent the inner end of said deflector and at adistance from said one edge to retain a plurality of articles in singlefile relation on said conveyor between said fence and said one edge andin alignment with said deflector, and a diverter extending obliquelyinwardly and downstream over the conveyor from said one edge and havingan inner end disposed at a point spaced from the upstream end of saidfence providing an entry opening permitting movement of an articlebetween the adjacent ends of the diverter and the fence, said inner endof the diverter being spaced further from said conveyor edge than saidfence so that articles will be circulated along said closed path unlessselectively drawn into said entry opening and are advanced on saidconveyor between said fence and said one edge to engage said deflectorand be guided thereby off the conveyor during advancement of thearticles.

10 Apparatus for feeding articles to a processing unit capable ofhandling articles at a predetermined rate, an accumulator unit arrangedto carry articles in an endless path, a plurality of feed conveyorsarranged to deliver articles to said accumulator unit, means foractuating each feed conveyor at a speed such that each conveyor deliversarticles at a rate less than said predetermined rate to saidaccumulator, a plurality of discharge conveyors arranged to deliverarticles to the processing unit and positioned to receive articles fromsaid accumulator unit, means overlying said accumulator unit for guidingarticles onto said discharge conveyors, and means for driving eachdischarge conveyor at a speed such that the conveyor delivers articlesat said predetermined rate to said processing unit.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Richardson et a1. Sept. 8,

1 14 Nelson Aug. 3, 1933 Stryker Apr. 10, 1956 Kay May 6, 1958 JeremiahJuly 12, 196-0 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 12, 1954

1. IN AN ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS, AN ACCUMULATOR CONVEYOR ARRANGED TOCARRY ARTICLES ALONG A CLOSED PATH, AN ARTICLE SUPPLY CONVEYOR AT AHEIGHT DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF SAID ACCUMULATOR CONVEYOR, A TRANSFERCONVEYOR EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SUPPLY CONVEYOR AND HAVING ANINCLINED PORTION EXTENDING FROM ADJACENT AND BENEATH SAID SUPPLYCONVEYOR INTO PLANAR RELATION WITH THE ARTICLE CARRYING SURFACE OF SAIDACCUMULATOR CONVEYOR WITH THE ADJACENT EDGES OF SAID ACCUMULATORCONVEYOR AND SAID TRANSFER CONVEYOR IN CONTIGUOUS RELATION, A FIRSTDEFLECTOR ABOVE SAID SUPPLY CONVEYOR AND EXTENDING OBLIQUELY DOWNSTREAMWITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPLY AND SAID TRANSFER CONVEYORS TO DIRECTARTICLES OFF THE SUPPLY CONVEYOR AND ONTO THE TRANSFER CONVEYOR, AND ASECOND DEFLECTOR EXTENDING OBLIQUELY DOWNSTREAM ACROSS SAID TRANSFERCONVEYOR TOWARD SAID ACCUMULATOR CONVEYOR TO DIRECT ARTICLES OFF THEFORMER AND ONTO THE LATTER, SAID TRANSFER CONVEYOR BEING ARRANGED TOADVANCE ARTICLES INTO CONTACT WITH SAID SECOND DEFLECTOR AND FORCE THEMLATERALLY OVER SAID CONTIGUOUS EDGES ONTO SAID ACCUMULATOR CONVEYOR.